Improvement in air-tight burial-cases



PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES TIMMERMAN, OF AMSTERDAM, N'EVV YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN AIR-TIGHT BURIAL-CASES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 55,555, dated J une l2, 1866.

To all 'whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES TIMMERMAN, of Amsterdam, in the county of Montgomery and State of N ew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air-Tight Burial-Gases; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, and of their mode or manner of operation, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

The nature of my invention consists in an improved construction of burial-eases or cofiins of Wood and metal combined, by which lightness and comparative cheapness, with durability, and all the advantages of air-tight coflins are secured.

Figure l is a side view of the burial-case when put together. Fig. 2 is a side profile view, showing its construction, the frame and glass in the top, the iron connections of the corners in the body of the case, and the iron tongue connecting the sides and bottom and corner pieces together. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of one end of Fig. 2. Fig. et is a full-size view of one of the corners of the body of the case. Fig. 5 shows another form and construction of cover than that represented in Figs. l and 2.

rIhe burial-case is composed of twopartsthe lower part or body, A, of the case, and the upper part or cover, B.

. The sides A', ends O, and bottom D are made of wood, as in ordinary coffms. Instead, however, of fastening such parts together with nails or in any usual manner, I interpose a corner piece, B', between the sides and ends, and to which they are connected and fastened by iron tongues E E, tting in proper grooves made in such end, side, and corner pieces. Such corner pieces also permit a more graceful and elegant shape to be given to the case. Similar iron tongues F are made use of to connect and fasten the bottom of the case to the side, end, and corner pieces. In addition to such tongue-pieces I also place a corner plate, D', of iron or other suitable metal, in each inside corner of the case, shaped to fit the corner and extending a little distance upon the end and side pieces, which corner plates, D', are firmly secured to the sides and ends, and also to the corner pieces of the case by screws, the number of which `used will vary according' to the size ofthe case. Such plates may also be fastened by cement, or by dovctail projections on such plates entering into grooves made in the sides of the case, the particular manner of fastening such plates not being material; and such plates may also be placed on the outside of the case,' it' desired, and in such case can be struck up to conform to the shape or configuration of the corner piece, B, or in any design to help give artistic beauty to the case. The iron tongues E and F are put in with cement in the grooves made for them, and the corner pieces, D', are also laid in cement before they are fastened.

To make the case more completely air-tight the Wood parts are saturated with hot liquid gum or varnish prepared for the purpose.

The top or cover B is made of iron and wood combined, substantially as follows: An iron frame, G, usually of cast-iron, is made of such a size as to project a little over the body A, and is so shaped, substantially as shown in the drawings, as to raise or elevate the top of the cover and give it an appearance like that shown in Figs. l and 2. On the top edge of the body A of the case is made a groove, C', which is intended to be lled with cement, and on the under side of the iron frame G is a tongue or projection, (seen in Fig. 3,) which enters into such groove. Such iron frame G is secured to the body of the case by means of 'screws J, which enter the the case outside of the groove above described, so as not to admit any 'air into the interior. To the top of such iron frame G is firmly and tightly secured, by means of cement and screws or rivets, wooden panel-work K, in which may be set glass L, protected by a suitable cover or lid, K'. The glass L is also to be set in cement. To hold such panel or wooden work ofthe cover or top and prevent its spreading, and thus secure a more perfect connection or joint between the iron and Wooden parts of the top of the case, there is a projection, stud, or rib, I, extending around the iron frame G, and within which the panel-Work is confined.

1 Fig. vrepresents another form of top, in which the iron frame G', that gives the desired elevation to the cover, is not exposed to view, but supports molding o g, by means of which any desired external shape is given to that part of the cover which rises from the body A. Such iron frame may also extend around the ends and sides, or be limited to corner pieces to connect the sides and ends of the top together. When the iron frameis so placed under the moldings that give the desired form to the rising part of the top, instead of making the grooves for the cement in the top edge of the body of the ease, such groove is made in the under side of the molding, as shown at G,Fig. 5, and the sides and ends of the body of the ease project upward sufcient to enter such grooves. A screw, J', draws such molding tightly down upon the sides and ends of the case. The top or panel-work oi' the cover is made substantially as before described.

fastening the bottom and upright parts of theV case together, substantially as described.

2. Constructing the cover or upper part of the burial-case of iron and wood in combination, substantially as described.

CHARLES TIMMERMAN.

Witnesses GEO. WARWICK, J. W. KLINE. 

